Page 13 - PowerPoint 演示文稿

sector, Tourism (Inland & International) Ayurveda & medical services, Pilgrimage, IT
based exports, Transport Sector, Financial Services, Education are the main areas of
service sector.

Tourism: Kerala- God’s Own Country

Kerala’s culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demographics, have made the state one of
the most popular tourist destinations in India. In 2012, National Geographic’s
Traveller magazine named Kerala as one of the “ten paradise of the world” and one of

the “50 must see destinations of a lifetime”. Travel and Leisure also described Kerala
as “One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century”.

Kerala’s beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountain ranges, waterfalls, ancient ports,

palaces, religious institutions and wildlife sanctuaries are major attractions for both
domestic and international tourists. The city of Kochi ranks first in the total number of
international and domestic tourists in Kerala. In 2011, tourist inflow to Kerala crossed
the 10 million mark.

Ayurvedic tourism has become very popular since the 1990s, with the initiatives of
the Tourism Department. Kerala is known for its ecotourism initiatives which include
mountaineering, trekking and bird-watching programmes in the Western Ghats as the

major activities. The revenue from tourism increased five-fold between 2001 and
2011 and crossed the ₹ 190 billion mark in 2011. Moreover, the industry provides

employment to approximately 1.2 million people.

Asia’s largest, and the world’s third largest Naval Academy- Indian Naval Academy at
Ezhimala at Kannur is in Kerala. Idukki Arch dam, the world’s second arch dam, and
Asia’s first, is in Kerala.